According to the Excelsior Information System of Unioncamere in the recent report “Forecasts of occupational and professional needs in Italy in the medium term”, there still seems to be a correlation between obtaining a degree and securing a good job, especially in the fields of economic-statistical disciplines, the medical-health sector, as well as education and training. Additionally, STEM subjects and engineering are also in high demand. The study predicts that between 2024 and 2028, almost 4 out of 10 jobs will require tertiary level qualifications, including university degrees, ITS Academy qualifications, and equivalent “academies”. This is a significant increase compared to the past, where only 24% of workers had at least a degree in 2022.
Technical and professional diploma holders are also expected to fare well, with 1.4-1.7 million job opportunities, accounting for 46% of the total offerings. On the other hand, high school diploma holders seem to be facing difficulties, as only 4% of jobs (120-145 thousand units) are allocated to them. Among STEM disciplines, engineering courses stand out with an expected annual demand of 72,000 to 82,000 job opportunities. Specifically, engineering programs are projected to offer between 36,000 and 41,000 jobs annually, excluding civil engineering, which is analyzed separately with an absorption of about 13-15,000 people per year. The strictly scientific field including mathematics, physics, and computer science is expected to provide 12,000-14,000 new job opportunities annually.
Interestingly, the highest prospective numbers come from non-STEM programs. Economic-statistical disciplines have the highest demand, ranging between 44,000 and 50,000 people needed annually. Surprisingly, teaching and training, including sports sciences, come second with a slightly lower prediction (42-45,000 units). The healthcare sector ranks third with 38,000 annual positions. The legal and socio-political area also shows potential with 27-28,000 expected hires per year. Conversely, the bottom of the rankings includes biological and technological sciences, the chemical-pharmaceutical sector, psychology, agricultural-food-zootechnical industry, and linguistics, all expecting less than 10,000 job opportunities per year from 2024-2028.
Employers, particularly in the public sector, will highly value graduates and related professionals, with an estimated 79% of public administration positions requiring tertiary level qualifications, compared to 27% in the private sector. In the private sector, there is a higher demand for graduates in technical-scientific fields. The appeal for high school graduates remains low, with only 4% in the public sector and 5% in the private sector. Overall, the report indicates a positive outlook for job prospects for those with higher education and specialized qualifications, especially in certain sectors like engineering, healthcare, and education.
